The Headquarters on Joint Investigations discussed the most pressing issues of developing competition

On 19^th September 2017, the agenda of the 33^rd session of the Headquarters for Joint Investigations of Violations of the Antimonopoly Law by the CIS member-states included, in particular competition on the market of medical equipment, aggregates production, economy residential housing, as well as specifics of control over economic concentration under digitalization of the economy

The agenda was announced by Deputy Head of FAS Anatoly Golomolzin who leads the Headquarters.

First report was made by Deputy Head of the Department for Social Sphere and Services – Head of the Unit for Social Sphere and Household Service, the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, the Republic of Belarus, Daria Orlova about the progress of the Headquarters’ studies of the CIS markets of medical equipment.

Head of FAS Department for Social Sphere and Trade, Timopheу Nizhegorodtsev pointed out that the colleagues’ efforts to analyze this market are very important but require further detalization with regulatory analysis and methodological guidelines. He emphasized: “The healthcare systems are roughly the same in all countries, the principles are universal, and the subject of analysis should be the same for all countries so the materials can be generalized and put to use. In my opinion, instead of an analysis, currently there should be a review of medical products, substitutability, geographic boundaries and other methodological issues. In the near future we shall draft and submit our proposals on the report structure”.

Representatives of the antimonopoly authorities from Kirgizia and Kazakhstan also gave their comments and proposals. Based on the report, the initiatives of Belarus competition authority were approved. Proposals on further directions of the joint were supported in general. It was decided to form a Working Group to determine unified approaches and compile a common list for reviewing.

Head of FAS Department for Industry Control, Nelli Galimkhanova gave a report “On the state of competition on the markets of aggregates production in the CIS member-states”.

Based on a presentation from Head of FAS Department for Control over Chemical Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex, Anna Mirochinenko, it was suggested to consider BRICS work on global food product chains essential. A draft report will be submitted for consideration of representatives of the competitions authorities of the CIS member-states with further possible consideration by CIS Executive Committee.

Head of FAS Department for Control over Construction and Natural Resources, Oleg Korneev, talked about a draft report “On the state of competition on the market of economy residential housing in the CIS member-states”.

Elena Zaeva, Head of FAS Department for Regulating Communications and Information Technologies, talked about CIS antimonopoly bodies considering the merger of “Yandex N.V.” and “Uber International C.V.”

On 18 August 2017 FAS received a petition from “Yandex” and “UBER” on merging the businesses in Russia. Changes will be not only in Russia but also in other CIS states (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia and Kazakhstan).

Elena Zaeva emphasized: “FAS shall analyze the market of taxi passenger transportation as an integrated and multi-sided market, where on the one hand, passengers, and on the other, drivers, taxi pools, and platforms. We need to study network effects on the market and see whether they change as a result of a merger and how these changes may affect competition”.

All members of the Headquarters expressed big interests in the issue.

Roman Vdovenko from the Interstate Aviation Committee highlighted market entry of new air carriers. He encourages the Coordination Council to discuss, in particular, the related issues.

Anatoly Golomolzin presented the judicial community from the Lawyers Union to the Headquarters as new session participants.

“Qualitative changes have occurred in our session. Judicial generalizations of antimonopoly practices are essential for our work. No doubt, participation of judicial community in the Headquarters’ work will become a big step in developing our joint activity”.